Napkin



Aug. 27, 1968 FRIED ET AL NAPKIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1966 INlfENTOR [Gaza [r zed 1414 JFWZd ATTOE/VA'YS Aug. 27, 1968 L. FRIED ET AL 3,398,438

' NAPKIN Filed April 15, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mgmroa; lows Fwzed ATTORNEYS United States Patent "ice 3,398,438 NAPKIN Louis Fried, 280 Prospect Ave., Hackensack, NJ.

07601, and Alan J. Fried, 1359 Sussex Road, Teaneck, NJ. 07666 Filed Apr. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 542,860 2 Claims. (Cl. 247) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to paper napkins or the like having adhesive means thereon for securing the napkin to the clothing of a person while eating. Means is provided for preventing the adhesive portion from adhering to other portions of the napkin when in folded position, and when the napkin is unfolded the adhesive means is automatically exposed for adherence to the desired object.

The present invention relates to a new and novel napkin, and more particularly to a napkin including means for adhesively attaching the napkin to the clothing of a person while eating to hold the napkin in place.

The present invention may be employed either with conventional fabric napkins or paper napkins and the like, and it is especially adapted for use with the conventional type paper napkin which is of rather flimsy construction and wherein it is essential that no portion of the napkin be accidentally adhered to the adhesive means of the napkin since in parting such adhesively secured portions, the napkin would be likely to be torn.

It is well know that it is a long-standing problem to retain paper napkins and the like in place while eating. These napkins have a tendency to slip off onto the floor, and a particular purpose of the present invention is to provide means for positively holding the napkin in place while in use.

In order to hold the napkin in use, the present invention provides adhesive means in the form of a pressure-sensitive surface which is adapted to be pressed against any portion of a persons clothing for holding the napkin in place.

Another important consideration in providing means for attaching the napkin in place is that the napkin also be readily removable. This is accomplished in the present invention since the pressure-sensitive adhesive substance is of such a nature that it can readily be manually removed, and furthermore the adhesive means is such that it will not leave any telltale mark 011 the persons clothing, nor is it of such a nature that it will tend to tear, mar or otherwise damage the clothing.

As mentioned above, it is also extremely important to provide a means for positively preventing various -portions of the napkin from adhering to the adhesive means, and the present invention includes means for ensuring that no portion of the napkin will accidentally adhere to the adhesive means especially when the napkins are in stacked folded position.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel napkin including means for positively holding the napkin in place and preventing it from slipping out of the desired operative position.

Another object is the provision of a napkin which is readily removable after it has been attached in operative position.

Still another object is to provide a napkin which can be readily removed from a persons clothing after attachment thereto without tearing, marring or otherwise damaging the clothing.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a nap- 3,398,438 Patented Aug. 27, 1968 kin including adhesive means for securing it in operative position and including means for preventing portions of the napkin from accidentally adhering to the adhesive means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved napkin which is quite simple and inexpensive in construction, and yet which at the same time is quite efiicient and reliable in use.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a stack of napkins in folded position according to a first modification of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view illustrating one of the napkins as shown in FIG. 1 in its unfolded position;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the unfolded napkin of FIG. 3 as mounted in operative position;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of one corner of a folded napkin of a second form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a view of the napkin shown in FIG. 5 with the uppermost layer thereof bent upwardly;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a corner of a folded napkin according to a further modification of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 illustrating the cortier of the uppermost layer of the napkin bent in an upward direction;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view substantially along line 10-10 of FIG. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the corner of a folded napkin according to a further modification of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a view of the napkin shown in FIG. 11 illustrating the top layer of the napkin moved upwardly and with the tab at the corner thereof folded outwardly substantially into the plane of the adjacent portion of the napkin; and

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 1313 of FIG. 11 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a first form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 inclusive. In FIG. 1, a stack of folded napkins is illustrated as conventionally packaged. This stack of folded napkins includes a plurality of individual napkins 22 of substantially identical construction, one of such napkins being shown in FIG. 3 in its unfolded condition. Each napkin includes four substantially square portions 24, 26, 28 and 30 which are defined by a first fold line 34 and second fold lines 36 and 38. In folding the napkin shown in FIG. 3, the portions 26 and 28 are first folded along fold line 34 so as to be in overlying relationship to portions 24 and 30, whereupon portions 28 and 30 are then folded along the fold lines 36 and 38 respectively so as to be in overlying relationship to the portions 24 and 26.

Portion 24 of the napkin is provided with a hole 40, this hole being shown square, but it being understood that it may be of any suitable configuration. This hole is preferably positioned adjacent the associated outer corner of portion 24 of the body means of the napkin.

A member 42 is provided, this member 42 having a pressure-sensitive adhesive surface 44 ,on one side thereof, the opposite side of member 44 being of a non-adhesive nature. Member 42 may be of any suitable substance, and this member may be similar to well-known pressuresensitive tapes now on the market which have an adhesive surface on one side thereof and a non-adhesive surface on the other side thereof.

Member 42 may also be of a generally square configuration and of a larger dimension than hole 40 so that it may be pressed into the operative position shown in FIG. 3 so that the marginal portions 46 of the member 42 will be adhesively secured to the underside of the napkin about the hole 40. This marginal portion 46 may be seen most clearly in FIG. 2. It will be apparent that with this arrangement, the member 42 is supported in the operative position over the hole 40 and with the pressure-sensitive surface 44 thereof exposed at the opposite or upper side of the napkin as seen in FIG. 3.

As seen in FIG. 3, portion 26 of the napkin is provided with a hole 50 formed therethrough, this hole being of a dimension similar to hole 40, and possibly slightly larger to ensure that there is clearance with the adhesive substance on the pressure-sensitive surface of member 42.

The napkin 22 is illustrated in the folded position thereof in FIG. 2, and it will be noted as seen in this figure that the various portions 24, 26, 28 and 30 are all disposed in adjacent relationship, and the hole 50 formed in portion 26 is disposed in overlying aligned relationship with hole 40 provided in portion 24 of the napkin. It is apparent that with this arrangement, portion 26 of the napkin will be spaced from the adhesive surface of member 42 as will the adjacent portion 28 of the napkin, and obviously portion 30 of the napkin cannot engage the pressure-sensitive surface. Accordingly, each of the various portions 26, 28 and 30 is prevented from engaging the pressure-sensitive surface of member 42 as exposed through hole 40. On the other hand, the opposite side of member 42 is non-adhesive, and cannot adhere to the uppermost portion 30 of the underlying napkin.

It is accordingly clear as seen in FIG. 2 that with the arrangement shown, no portion of an individual napkin will adhere to the pressure-sensitive surface provided on the adhesive means thereof, nor will any adjacent napkin adhere to such surface. This permits the various napkins to be readily removed from the stack and then unfolded into the position shown in FIG. 3 whereupon the napkin can be placed in the operative position shown in FIG. 4 wherein it will be understood that the exposed pressure-sensitive surface of the adhesive means is pressed against a portion of the clothing of a user. As illustrated, the adhesive means is shown as being attached to the tie 54 of a user, although it is clear that it can as well be attached to any suitable portion of a persons clothing.

Referring now to FIGS. -7, a modified form of the invention is illustrated wherein one corner of a folded napkin is indicated generally by reference numeral 60. This napkin includes four portions 64, 66, 68 and 70 which correspond respectively to the portions 24, 26, 28 and of the previously described modification.

In this latter form of the invention, portion 70 is provided with an area on the surface of one side thereof of a pressure-sensitive adhesive substance, this area being indicated by reference numeral 72. This adhesive substance may be applied to the surface of portion 70 in any suitable manner as by being sprayed on or daubed on with a suitable means or the like. It will be noted that this adhesive substance is applied to portion 70 adjacent the outer surface thereof.

The portion 68 is provided at area 74 with an antiadhesive substance to which the pressure-sensitive adhesive surface is incapable of being adhered. Suitable substances may comprise soap, wax, silicone substances and the like. The area 74 as seen particularly in FIG. 7 may be slightly larger than the area 72 so as to ensure that the pressure-sensitive surface will not contact the material of portion 68 of the napkin.

It will be noted that in the folded relationship of the napkin, areas 72 and 74 are substantially aligned with one another as seen in FIG. 7, it being understood that these two areas are disposed on the same side of the napkin prior to folding thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-10 inclusive, a further modified form of the invention is illustrated wherein the napkin is indicated generally by reference numeral 80. This napkin similar to those previously described also includes four portions 84, 86, 88 and 90. which are folded to be in the overlying relationship to one another as illustrated, these portions corresponding to portions 24, 26, 28 and 30 of the napkin illustrated in FIG. 3.

' Portion 90 has a member 92 secured to one side thereof adjacent the outer corner thereof. This member 92 may be of a commercially available type of pressure-sensitive tape having pressure-sensitive surfaces onopposite sides thereof. As illustrated, the member 92 is adhesively secured to portion 90 by the pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side thereof while the pressure-sensitive surface 94 at the opposite side of member 92 is exposed.

Portion 88 of the napkin includes an area 96 having an anti-adhesive substance similar to that previously described disposed thereon. This area 96 as seen particularly in FIG. 10 is substantially aligned with member 92 and may be of slightly larger area to ensure that the exposed pressure-sensitive surface of member 92 does not contact the adjacent portion 88 of the napkin.

It is apparent that in this modification as well as that shown in FIGS. 5-7, no portions of the napkin will accidentally adhere to the adhesive means, and that by unfolding the napkin, the pressure-sensitive surface of the adhesive means is exposed for attachment to a portion of a persons clothing.

Referring now to FIGS. 11-13 inclusive, a still further modified form of the invention is illustrated wherein the napkin is indicated generally by reference numeral 100 and includes portions 104, 106, 108 and 110 which correspond to the portions 24, 26, 28 and 30 respectively of the napkin illustrated in FIG. 3.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 12 and 13, portion 110 is provided with a fold line 114 which defines a tab 116 which is folded back as illustrated in FIG. 13 so as to be normally in a generally parallel relationship with the adjacent part of portion 110.

Tab 116 is provided on the undersurface thereof with an area 120 having a pressure-sensitive adhesive substance thereon, this substance being applied in any suitable manner.

An adjacent part of the portion 110 of the napkin is provided with an area 122 having an anti-adhesive substance thereon similar to that previously described, this 6 area 122 being substantially aligned with area 120 and being preferably slightly larger than area 120 to ensure that the adhesive substance in area 120 does not come into contact with a part of portion 110 adjacent to the area 122.

It should also be understood that the positions of areas 120 and 122 may be reversed or in other words, the area having a pressure-sensitive adhesive substance thereon may be provided on portion 110 of the napkin while the area having the anti-adhesive substance thereon may be provided on the undersurface of the tab, these areas being aligned with one another in either case.

The tab may be provided with a printed legend as shown in FIG. 11 stating Lift TabThen Press Here. Accordingly when it is desired to utilize this form of the invention, tab 116 will be grasped at the corner thereof and then moved in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 into the phantom line position shown in FIG. 13 so that it is disposed substantially in the same plane as the remainder of portion 110. In this position, the napkin may then be readily unfolded and attached to an article of clothing or the like.

It is apparent that in this form of the invention, there is no chance that an undesired part of the napkin will accidentally engage and become adhered to the adhesive means, and further that a plurality of napkins may be stacked upon one another without causing any undesired interengagement of the adhesive means of the various napkins with an adjacent napkin.

A particular advantage of this form of the invention is that the tab provides a means for readily locating the corner of the napkin which is provided with the adhesive means, and it further has a commercial advantage in that the adhesive means as well as the adhering-preventing means are both applied in one corner of the napkin thereby simplifying the manufacture thereof.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according to the present invention a new and novel napkin including means for positively holding the napkin in place and preventing it from slipping out of the desired operative position. The napkin may be readily removed from its operative position without tearing, marring or other- Wise damaging a persons clothing. The various forms of the napkin each include means for preventing portions of the napkin from adhering to the adhesive means thereof, and further provide an arrangement wherein the various napkins may be readily stacked upon one another and removed from such stack. The napkin according to the present invention is quite simple and inexpensive in construction, and yet at the same time is quite eflicient and reliable in use.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms l without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

We claim:

1. A napkin comprising body means formed of flexible material, adhesive means supported by said body means and defining a pressure-sensitive surface for attachment to the clothing of a user, and adhering preventing means for preventing said adhesive means from adhering to another portion of the napkin when the napkin is in folded condition with said other portion disposed adjacent said adhesive means, said body means having a first hole formed therethrough, said adhesive means including a pressuresensitive surface secured to one side of said napkin and disposed over said first hole and exposed at the opposite side of said napkin, said napkin also including a second hole formed therethrough, said second hole being substantially aligned with said first hole when the napkin is in its folded position so that the portion of the napkin immediately around said second hole will not be adhered to said adhesive means in the folded position of the napkin.

2. A napkin as defined in claim 1 wherein in the folded position of the napkin, the portion of the napkin having said second hole formed therethrough is disposed adjacent said opposite side of the napkin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,102,370 7/1914 Wait -c 2467.1 1.782,194 11/1930 Carter.

2,030,135 2/1936 Carpenter 2467.l XR 2,009,831 7/1935 Yerzley 247 2,518,626 8/1950 Lepper.

2,803,574 8/1957 Payant 247 X 2,902,734 9/1959 Walters 247 DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner. 

